For ME??

Far too long ago, (and I am ashamed at how long it took for me to blog about it) my sweet blogging friend, Nicole at Our Cozy Nest, awarded me with this very generous award. Not only is Nicole my friend in the blog world, but we found out that we actually KNOW each other. Come to find out, she lived right up the street from me when she was a little girl and I babysat her a few times. She was about 4 and I was about 14. What a coincidence it was that we found each other after all these years!!! It has been fun catching up!

It is my pleasure to nominate 5 blogs for this award. Please be sure to go check out these blogs!

1. Amanda @AmandasMusings. Amanda had my name in a bag swap and she sent me the most wonderful bag. She does amazing hand work and am proud to be the new owner of some of her work!

2. Julie @ Country Girl at Heart. Julie is such a sweet gal! She is always reminding us to "be nice to people" She has a fun blog with loads of fun creations that she shows us. Make sure you see her window valences.

3.Leslie @ My Country Home. Leslie is always on the go.....She is definitely a mover and a shaker at her house. She always has something in the works whether it's a kitchen remodel or a craft! :)

4.Gail @ House of Payne. Gail is my sweet friend from Orem. She was my first friend after moving there (and a wonderful and committed visiting teacher). I miss her and her darling children like nobodies business! We even share the same birthday.

5.Mary @ GettysburgHomestead. Mary has the funnest blog FULL of prim crafts and ideas. She has been so generous in giving me awards and I am happy to return the gesture!

I hope you all have fun getting to know these wonderful ladies. I know I have!!! :):):)

Counting my blessings

Sometimes I just can't believe the generosity of others. After being MIA from the blog world for a few days, I get a message from Mary at Gettysburg Homestead saying that she has a surprise for me over at her blog. And what do you suppose I find once I get there?? This lovely and extremely kind award.... I simply can't believe that she has awarded me this, especially given the fact that I have been doing some whining on my blog lately..... But, THANK YOU THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart, Mary. Here are the rules to this little bit of fun! 1. The winner can put the logo on her blog. 2. Link the person you received your award from. 3. Nominate at least 5 other blogs. 4. Put links of those blogs on yours. 5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you’ve nominated. And the nominees are........ 1. Kim at Bitty Bits and Pieces. She makes some wonderful quilts and is so giving to all those around her. She also shares wonderful recipes, too! 2.Linda at All Stitched Up.She has organized the most fabulous swaps. She is a very talented seamstress and her stitching work is impeccable. 3.Cori at familywithfivekids Cori is so dedicated to her sweet family.She is always volunteering at her kids schools. She is a scrapbook aficionado and gifted card maker! 4.Tara at Just the Bergie Boyz. Tara is also a very talented quilter and crafter. She recently made THE cutest pincushion for Linda's pincushion swap. She also posts the sweetest pictures of her boys. 5.Nicole at Our Cozy Nest. She posts some wonderful pictures of her home (and those of others!)on her blog. And do you want to hear a strange coincidence??? Nicole and I attended the same high school!!(I do believe there were many years in between, though! haha!) 6.Anna at Thimbleanna. Anna is so funny! I always have a little giggle every time I read her blog. She also leaves the sweetest comments! Then, I received this wonderful PIF gift from Kindra at Three Guys, a Girl and a Prim place. I just KNEW she would send something wonderful! Thanks Kindra!! It makes me want to get out all my fall decorations, even though it is still as hot as Hells Hinges here in AZ! :) Craig returned from China on Sunday. He brought so many wonderful gifts for the kids and me!! He called it our "Chinese Christmas"! He brought me this beautiful pearl necklace, bracelet and earring set. He also brought me a little sugar bowl...not for sugar, though. He said it's for my "trophy case". (That's what he calls my curio cabinet.) He is so funny!! Here is a little something I have been working on for my Whatcha' Working on Wednesday post..... It's a Halloween table runner. I seem to be making a lot of runners these days. I know it's because (a) they work up faster than a quilt (b) they are easier than a quilt and (c) I am a finish it tonight kinda gal!! Well, I am off to prepare dinner for the missionaries. This is their third time in as many weeks. They are a lot of fun. I am going to get some pictures of them tonight!

An Award, and a Great Find

I received another award from my blogging friend Mary. She is just the most generous gal! She has a really fun blog so you should pop on over and look at all her fun pictures. The rules for receiving this award are: 1) Put the logo on your blog. 2) Add a link to the person who awarded you. 3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs. Well, I just can't pick seven so I will say that anyone reading this gets my vote for this award. I have so much fun reading and looking at all the fun things people are doing and making. There is so much inspiration to be had! I also found this wonderful site and wanted to share.... It seems we all take the time to sit at our computer but don't always take the time to read the scriptures. This site will email you scripture passages on a schedule that you create. As soon as you are done, you will be emailed some more. You can even click on the audio button and have the scriptures read to you. How great is that??!!? That's the ultimate in multi tasking, if you ask me! http://www.readthescriptures.com/ There is a GREAT give away at Tammy's. She just opened an Etsy shop. As much as it pains me to send you all her way as it lessens my chance of winning, I will do it anyway because she is such a sweet lady. I really would like to see her be successful in this new endeavor. Today is Ragan's first day of High School. She is so excited she can hardly stand it!

What an Honor!

I have been awarded the Arte y Pico Award for Blog excellence! My friend, Mary, from Gettysburg Homestead, was so kind to give me an award. I was very surprised to get it and touched at the nice things she said about me. If you stop by her blog, you will be amazed at her creativity. She lives in a wonderful old house that she is fixing up so cute! (I try to keep my envy in check...) :) Not only is does she make and sell her owns prim creations, she is also an EMT. I am so glad to have met her! OK, here are the rules and remember if you already have the award just accept and that's all you have to do! 1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language. 2. Each award has to have the name of the author and a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone. 3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that presented her/him with the award. 4.The award winner and one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico" blog so everyone will know the origin of this award. 5. To show these rules. I tried to pick 5 blogs that I haven't chosen for anything else, recently. Sorry to anyone possibly getting a repeat award! So after much contemplation, I chose: 1.Linda, from All Stitched Up. She is a wonderful Aussie lady that recently organized the FUNNEST pincushion swap. I had so much fun making mine and sending it to Norway! She makes the most incredible quilts...you must go peep at her blog! 2.Jane, from Posy. She lives in jolly old England and as I read her blog I can just hear her adorable accent! I love to look at all her pictures. She has such a quaint little house full of floral fabrics, doilies, and much much more. I love to hear her tell of her car boot finds and her obsession with the band Cold Play! 3.Dolly, from From My Cherry Heart. She has awakened my new found love of the color red! She has the sweetest blog with the most wonderful pictures. Stop by and see for yourself....you will be glad you did! 4.Erica,from Polka Dot Quilts. She never ceases to amaze me with the quilts she sews up! She is so fast at it, too! She is one talented gal, that's for sure!! 5.And finally, Tracy from Oz Country Quilting Mum. If only she knew how much I want to play with all the animals on her farm!!! They are all so cute. You must go see the pictures of them! She poses them with some of her quilts. She also has a sewing room to die for! Thanks again Mary for the award!! Happy blogging, everyone! :):):